Harsh Cry of the Heron - Lian Hearn

The fourth and final book (except for the fifth - a prequel!) in the Tales of the Otori epic saga. While this is yet another amazing installment in what has been one of the most satisfying series I have ever read, one thing became clear as I finished the book: Hearn is an incredibly skilled writer and her prose is totally consistent in style, pace, and timbre. From the first pages of Across the Nightingale Floor to the conclusion of Harsh Cry, the series reads as one long story that never dissapoints.

Reading the series feels like a literature of the highest quality disguised as a guilty pleasure. Really, I can't recommend these books enough. A delight to read and very good storytelling throughout.